Don't Feed the Birds | Tracey Finch

Acrylic on Canvas

Dimensions: 32.5cm x 32.5cm 

Framed in natural timber

A familiar slice of Kiwi summer, Don’t Feed the Birds captures the kind of everyday scene that feels instantly nostalgic — a fish and chip stop by the water, picnic tables, sun umbrellas and the promise of something hot wrapped in paper.

Drawing on Tracey Finch’s fascination with ordinary moments and shared memories, the work elevates an unremarkable scene into something worth holding onto. Her bold colour and simplified forms give the painting a contemporary energy, while small details — the ice chest, traffic cone and handwritten “Fresh Fish Market” sign — evoke a distinctly New Zealand sense of place.

Like much of Finch’s work, Don’t Feed the Birds feels both specific and universal: perhaps not a memory you actually lived, but somehow one you recognise.

About Tracey:

Tracey Finch is a contemporary New Zealand artist, creating paintings from vintage photos to tell timeless stories.

Having grown up in NZ, Tracey spent a large part of her adult life in the UK and resettled in Tauranga in 2019 with her family. Earlier collections considered that homecoming and the contrast between her childhood memories, versus the reality of NZ today. 

Today, Tracey is building on the theme of nostalgia, while taking a broader view beyond her own immediate, lived experiences. She is interested in the cyclical, generational nature of life. Her work often draws on found amateur photography and everyday moments from the past that continue to resonate with contemporary viewers, even when the memories or moments don’t directly belong to them.

In 2024 Tracey was also part of a small, volunteer team of artists who brought the first BOP Open Studios art trail to life, connecting artists with local art lovers across the Bay of Plenty region. She regularly participates in nationwide and local exhibitions.